- Dirty Dancing, the latest release from Cómeme, is a collaboration between Matias Aguayo and South Africa's "Bacardi house" creator, DJ Spoko. The EP was recorded in Johannesburg, where the producers were "jamming and smoking till the break of dawn." Whether or not that's the real story, the description suits the record's colorful sound—though not always to its benefit. The music reels with high spirit, but, like plans made at the end of a sleepless night, its ideas don't always come together.
Both producers bring a strong rhythmic touch, but Aguayo's seems more dominant. Each beat is stripped-back and straight, without the infectious, heavy swing that lit up Spoko and DJ Mujava's joint 2016 EP, I.M.I.. Spoko's touch is best heard elsewhere, like on the "Township Funk"-style synth riff on "Dirty Dancing." The Bronx-to-Berlin veteran Elbee Bad features on "Something About The Groove," his distinctive party poetry smoothing an otherwise sparse and crunchy house track. "Taxi Rank" finally strikes a chord with warm, drunken rhythms and a zippy xylophone melody. If only each tune had the same kind of punch.
TracklistA1 Dirty Dancing
A2 Ghost Of Dombolo
B1 Something About The Groove feat. Elbee Bad
B2 Taxi Rank